Namibia is a road tripper’s paradise. If you don’t mind seeing vast empty landscapes for hours at a time but delight in the anticipation of spectacular destinations en route, then you should find the country a perfect location for your open road adventure.
The Etosha National Park is a must visit to those who love to see exotic animals in their natural habitat. It has one of the biggest concentrations of wild life population in Namibia and the landscape itself is something striking to see. It is home to more than a hundred species of mammals, over 300 bird species and an estimated 110 reptile varieties.
The name Etosha, which means “place of dry water” or “great white place”, perfectly captures the site’s topography resembling that of a wide shallow salt pan. The pan remains dry for most of the year but during heavy rains, thousands of flamingo flock to the area to take advantage of the shallow water deposited in the saltine basin.
There are plenty of private lodges surrounding the national park. These facilities offer a wide range of accommodation options from the most basic of comforts to lavish luxury depending on how much visitors are willing to pay. The lodges are also ideal providers of outdoor adventure trips because independent guided tours in the park come rarely, if at all.
Campsites are also good alternatives to private lodges. There are the original campsites of Namutoni, Okaukejo and Halali, as well as the more recent and better equipped Onkoshi. These campsites provide accommodation, restaurants and garage and car repair facilities for campers and day trippers. When visiting Okaukuejo and Halali campsites make sure to check out their watering holes to get a closer look of the local wildlife such as rhinos and elephants to name a few.
Make sure to return to your campsite or private lodging before the sun sets. Visitors to the park are not allowed to roam around at night to avoid encounters with predators prowling the landscape for unsuspecting preys.
Another remarkable Namibia attraction is the Fish River Canyon which is one of the biggest and grandest in the world. Be prepared to feel dwarfed when visiting the spectacular gorge and be amazed at the extraterrestrial feel of its landscape. What makes this gorge especially interesting is that it is not a result of gradual erosion like those of other canyons in different parts of the world. Rather, it is a product of an abrupt collapse brought about by violent core movements. The result is a sudden and unexpected drop out of the flat barren plateau from, seemingly, out of the blue.
For visitors who love a challenging hiking adventure, the Fish River Canyon will not disappoint. It is one of the best hiking destinations in all of Namibia with a demanding trail extending to 85 kilometers. It usually takes 4 to 5 days to complete the hike. Best time to rough it out is in the months of May until October. When in the area, you may also want to drop by the hot springs of Ai-Ais and the attractions of Huns Mountains, both of which also form part of beautiful Fishriver Canyon Park.
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